Parliamentary questions

Inter-Country Adoptions

Pearse Doherty

359. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will confirm for each of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the number of children adopted by State residents from each of Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States including Russia and from all foreign jurisdictions. [21193/13]

Hospital Staff

Pearse Doherty

376. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of practitioners that are currently employed in the orthodontic unit at Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal; the number of practitioners currently on maternity or other leave; if he is satisfied with the existing levels of staffing and service provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21112/13]

Home Help Service Provision

Pearse Doherty

377. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed directly by the Health Service Executive to provide home help services in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21115/13]

Home Help Service Provision

Pearse Doherty

378. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently employed by private bodies such as bluebird care for the provision of home help services in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21116/13]

Home Help Service Provision

Pearse Doherty

379. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the 605,000 home help hours to be provided by the Health Service Executive in County Donegal in 2013 include those to be provided by private companies under a service level agreement by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21117/13]

Official Engagements

Pearse Doherty

422. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an itinerary of his official engagements in the United States over the recent St. Patrick's Day holiday as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs Promote Ireland programme. [21192/13]

Family Reunification Policy

Pearse Doherty

12. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of family reunification cases currently being delayed by the current pause in processing certain categories pending his new policy in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20835/13]

Consular Services Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

48. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 23 April 2013 if he will confirm the salary and related costs of diplomatic representation of staff posted from Ireland in 2011 and 2012; the capital expenditure expended on diplomatic representation in those years; if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff employed in diplomatic representation whose annual salary lies in the following ranges: €100-150,000, €150-200,000, €200-250,000 and more than €250,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20866/13]

Euro Coins Production

Pearse Doherty

53. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to reports that it costs the State 1.65c to create a 1c coin, if he will confirm the unit cost of creating the following specie - 2c, 5c, 10c, 50c, 1 euro and 2 euro. [20862/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Pearse Doherty

54. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 23 April 2013 and confirmation that the Central Bank of Ireland has engaged BlackRock International to provide the stress-testing of Irish banks in 2013, if he will outline the principal acquisitions of assets in Ireland by BlackRock since the last stress-testing in January-March 2011. [20863/13]

National Treasury Management Agency Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

55. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 23 April 2013, if he will provide an explanation for expenses of the NTMA as they relate to the net funds drawn down from the Exchequer to cover the National Treasury management Agency's administrative costs of €10.72 million for the three months ending 31 March 2013. [20864/13]

HGV Driving Courses

Pearse Doherty

78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to any discrepency on a county basis between the number of hours of lessons offered to participants on HGV driving courses for which participants have received funding from FÁS; the reasons for such a discrepency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21012/13]

European Court of Justice Rulings

Pearse Doherty

113. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to the decision by the European Court of Justice in the appeal by workers at the former Waterford Crystal company in respect of their pension entitlements, the potential liability that arises in this case; if she will provide an estimate of potential liabilities in respect of other company pension schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20865/13]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Pearse Doherty

125. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the current waiting times per social welfare payment for the processing of applications by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21013/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Pearse Doherty

126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the current waiting times per social welfare payment for the processing of appeals by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21014/13]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

Pearse Doherty

127. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the current waiting times per social welfare payment for the processing of reviews by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21015/13]

Disability Allowance Applications Waiting Times

Pearse Doherty

128. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is currently reviewing disability applications from July 2012; the reasons for the backlog; the attempts made by her Department to clear this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21016/13]

Social Wefare Appeals Process

Pearse Doherty

129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is the policy of her Department that children are prohibited from accompanying their parents to an oral hearing for a Department care allowance application appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21017/13]

Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility

Pearse Doherty

141. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is currently any scheme or funding available in his Department similar to the Gaeltacht area house grants scheme to allow Gaeltacht residents to update or repair their homes; if he intends to restore this scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20976/13]

RTE Revenue

Pearse Doherty

144. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 411 on 23 April 2013, if he will confirm if Radio Telefís Éireann’s revenue has been sufficient to meet all sums properly chargeable to its current account and that RTÉ has made suitable provisions with respect to capital expenditure in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20867/13]

Departmental Schemes

Pearse Doherty

165. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any scheme in place in his Department for former council tenants or those on low incomes to avail of financial assistance to carry out essential home repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20975/13]

Departmental Bodies Reports

Pearse Doherty

169. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will lay the latest annual report and accounts for the Irish Film Classification Office before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [20868/13]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Pearse Doherty

245. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for orthodontic treatments in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal; the number of these that have been on the list for more than two years; the number of these who have been on this list for more than one year; the average length of time spent by a child on the waiting list before treatment is carried out; the number of children who have been added to the waiting list per month over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21033/13]

Proposed Legislation

Pearse Doherty

58. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the drafting of the local government Bill; and when he expects the Bill to be published. [20501/13]

Local Government Reform

Pearse Doherty

65. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made with the proposed alignment of local government and the engagement there has been with representatives of staff and the community sector. [20498/13]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the right a citizen has to a bank account. [20600/13]

Banking Operations

Pearse Doherty

86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the guidelines that exist for banks regarding lodgements they can refuse to accept, that is, packs of coins under a certain value or coins as part of priority lodgments for businesses.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20634/13]

Mortgage Arrears Rate

Pearse Doherty

166. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 252 of 16 April 2013, if he will confirm the name or names of the principal person or persons at the Central Bank of Ireland responsible for setting and monitoring targets at the banks for dealing with distressed mortgages. [20016/13]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

167. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an explanation for the €284,000 of ex gratia payments paid to former directors and-or dependants referred to on page 127 of the 2012 annual report and accounts of Bank of Ireland, a bank in which he controls 15% of the ordinary shares and €1.5 billion of preference shares. [20017/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Pearse Doherty

168. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to reports in a national newspaper that a property subject to a loan from Bank of Ireland, in which he owns 15% of the ordinary shares and €1.5bn of preference shares, was sold in January 2012 for circa STG £5 million and is now on the market with an asking price of STG £12.3 million, if he is satisfied that the sale in January 2012 maximised the return on the outstanding loan to Bank of Ireland. [20018/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

169. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to a report in a Sunday newspaper on 21 April 2013 regarding the special liquidation of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation which claimed to quote a Department spokesperson telling the newspaper, if the value of the assets sold is not sufficient to compensate the National Asset Management Agency for the bonds it has issued, he will be required to reimburse NAMA for the shortfall, it will hit the national accounts, surplus-shortfall, it is not accounted for off balance, if he will confirm if this is correct; if so, if he will explain the apparent inconsistency with the response given by him to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 275 to 278, inclusive, of 16 April 2013 when he stated through the liquidation process, the proceeds from the disposal of IBRC's assets will be used to repay creditors in accordance with normal Companies Acts priorities and, consequently, preferred creditors will be paid first and then debt purchased by NAMA from the Central Bank will be paid; and if he will confirm if NAMA will bear any loss on its issuance of bonds and, if not, how any shortfall will be addressed. [20019/13]

NAMA Loans Sale

Pearse Doherty

170. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the procedure used by the National Asset Management Agency when approached by a potential buyer of loans controlled by the agency, and specifically the way it deals with a specific multi-million euro offer for loans; if NAMA has time targets for acknowledging or responding to such approaches; and if there is no acknowledgement or response, if potential buyers have alternative routes to convey offers to NAMA. [20020/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Pearse Doherty

171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 64 of 12 July 2012 and 251 of 16 March 2013, the power the Central Bank of Ireland has to compel banks to write down the value of problem loans to the value of underlying security if the bank changes its primary regulator, for example, if Ulster Bank changes its regulator to the Bank of England and the British Financial Services Authority. [20021/13]

Banking Sector Issues

Pearse Doherty

172. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 16 April 2013, if he will provide a reconciliation between the €3.2 billion, which now takes the form of our remaining 15% equity stake and preference shares with a nominal value of €1.8 billion, and the net cash position of nearer €1.1 billion showing coupons, dividends and ELG fees received by year. [20036/13]

State Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 16 April 2013, if he will confirm the most recent valuation of the State's holding of preference shares in Bank of Ireland. [20037/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

175. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if a breakdown will be provided on capital acquisitions tax in 2012 as to the percentage that came from inheritance and the percentage from gifts. [20057/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

176. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will estimate the amount that would be raised for the Exchequer if the sale of principal residences were included under capital gains tax. [20058/13]

Tax Avoidance Issues

Pearse Doherty

177. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount raised for the Exchequer in 2012 as a result of increased revenue auditing activity and a targeting of black market activity; and his views on whether this amount can be increased through further auditing targets and other measures to reduce tax evasion. [20059/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

178. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that could be raised for the Exchequer from the introduction of a third rate of tax of 48% on an individual’s income in excess of €100,000 per annum. [20060/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

179. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that would be raised for the Exchequer by raising the rate of capital gains tax from 33% to 40%. [20061/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that would be raised for the Exchequer by raising the rate of capital acquisitions tax from 33% to 40% and lowering the thresholds to €187,000 for the child-parent category, €25,000 for the lineal ancestor category and €12,500 for the any other person category. [20062/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an estimate of the amount that would be raised for the Exchequer if the capital gains tax and capital acquisitions tax were applied to transfers between spouses. [20063/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Pearse Doherty

182. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that would be raised for the Exchequer if discretionary tax reliefs were standardised; and if he will provide a breakdown of the discretionary tax reliefs. [20064/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Pearse Doherty

183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the range of tax reliefs available to business here; and if he will set out the cost of these tax reliefs individually in 2012 or the last available full tax year. [20065/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

184. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the contributions, if any, that have been made by this State to the OECD BEPS project which will be reporting back to the next G20 in June. [20066/13]

Tax Reliefs Application

Pearse Doherty

185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the current rate at which landlords can make mortgage interest deductions against rental income for tax purposes; and the amount that can be raised for the Exchequer if this mortgage interest deduction is reduced to 40%. [20067/13]

Social Insurance Issues

Pearse Doherty

186. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will set out the matters to which PRSI and universal social charges are currently applied; if he is considering extending PRSI and USC to other forms of income not already subject to the charges. [20068/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Pearse Doherty

187. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will list all current tax reliefs and their individual cost to the Exchequer in the last available tax year. [20069/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

188. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that could be raised for the Exchequer if ARFs and PRSAs had their imputed distribution rates increased to 6% on amounts under €2 million and to 7% on amounts in excess of €2 million. [20070/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

189. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount that could be raised for the Exchequer by reducing the earnings cap for pension contributions to €70,000. [20071/13]

Budget 2014 Issues

Pearse Doherty

190. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he still intends to meet the €3.1 billion adjustment proposed for this year’s budget. [20072/13]

Budget 2013

Pearse Doherty

191. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the carry over to this year’s budget from the measures announced last year; and if he will provide a breakdown from whence that carry over will come. [20073/13]

Universal Social Charge Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

192. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of taking all those earning the minimum wage of €17,542 out of the universal social charge net. [20074/13]

Central Bank of Ireland Issues

Pearse Doherty

201. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the constraints that apply to employees of the Central Bank of Ireland in the context of resigning and moving to a private sector organisation where confidential or privileged information acquired at the Central Bank of Ireland may be deployed to the benefit of that private sector organisation. [20285/13]

NAMA Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of 2012, if he will set out the payments, providing the name of the company or individual and amount paid, made to receivers, administrators and liquidators by companies to which those receivers, administrators and liquidators were appointed by the National Asset Management Agency. [20286/13]

Central Bank of Ireland Issues

Pearse Doherty

203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 208 and 210 of 23 April 2013, if he will confirm if a bonus had in fact been awarded to a person (details supplied); if so, the date on which the bonus was awarded; the amount of the bonus awarded; the maximum bonus to which he was entitled; and if he will outline the objectives met by him which gave rise to the award of the bonus [20287/13]

NAMA Debtors

Pearse Doherty

204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of debtors referred by the National Asset Management Agency to An Garda Síochána arising from submissions by the debtors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20288/13]

Revenue Commissioners Reports

Pearse Doherty

205. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the publication of the 2012 annual report by the Revenue Commissioners if he will provide his assessment of the performance of the Revenue in 2012, and particularly if there are issues which are of concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20290/13]

National Lottery Licence Sale

Pearse Doherty

262. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 9 of 18 April 2013, if he will indicate in the budget 2013 documentation where there is an estimate for the receipt from the sale of the national lottery licence, and where the proposed use of the proceeds, a portion of which will be used for the construction of the new national children’s hospital, is shown in the budget 2013 documents. [20030/13]

Revised Estimates Publication

Pearse Doherty

263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the capital budget for 2013, as set out in the Revised Estimates Volumes published on 17 April 2013, has been set at €3,096,467,000 which represents a reduction of €339m from the plan of €3.435bn set out in December 2012 when Budget 2013 was unveiled. [20031/13]

Revised Estimates Publication

Pearse Doherty

264. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will estimate the number of jobs that will not now be created in 2013 or which will not be saved in 2013 as a result of the decision published by him in the Revised Estimates Volumes on 17 April 2013 which showed capital spending in 2013 of €3,096,467,000 which represents a reduction of €339 million from the plan of €3.435 billion set out in December 2012 when budget 2013 was unveiled. [20032/13]

Companies Law Issues

Pearse Doherty

274. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the fact that separate accounts for Ireland are not available for many consumer multinational companies operating here. [20028/13]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service Funding

Pearse Doherty

279. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the budget and headcount for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service for 2013, 2014 and 2015. [20025/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Pearse Doherty

280. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost to the Exchequer of reinstating the PRSI exemption. [20056/13]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Pearse Doherty

283. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 23 April 2013, if she has considered instituting a communication procedure in the Courts Service which would allow her Department to immediately stop payments to those sentenced to custody, and avoid repeating the €2 million overpayments made to prisoners in 2011 and to also avoid the cost of clawing back overpayments. [20292/13]

Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit

Pearse Doherty

307. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 16 April, 2013, if she will make available the file of data received from the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which she states do not give rise to data protection implications, but which presumably provide addresses, details of accommodation and rent costs. [20029/13]

Employment Support Services

Pearse Doherty

308. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the Clondalkin jobs club is being taken out of the area; the reason funding from FÁS for this service was withdrawn; if the funding and services are to be transferred to another organisation or location via a transfer of undertakings and protection of employment; the reason the former worker at the jobs club has not received any payment for weeks worked prior to the termination of his employment; the reason FÁS did not provide enhanced redundancy to the worker in question as it has done in other similar situations; and her views on whether it is acceptable, in view of the level of unemployment in such an area as Clondalkin, for such an important service to be withdrawn from the area. [20052/13]

Social Insurance Yield

Pearse Doherty

309. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount that could be raised for the Exchequer by introducing a new employers PRSI rate of 15.75% on the portion of salary paid in excess of €100,000 per annum. [20075/13]

Social Welfare Code Issues

Pearse Doherty

323. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 23 April 2013, if she is confident the response given is complete; and if she will confirm that no rent assistance or mortgage interest payments were made to prisoners in 2010 and 2011. [20293/13]

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Yield

Pearse Doherty

383. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that was raised for the Exchequer from the second home tax in 2012; and the amount estimated to be raised in 2013. [20055/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Pearse Doherty

396. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which he expects an answer from the Office of the State Solicitor regarding the decision on a foreshore licence application for Burtonport, County Donegal; the date on which the application was transferred to the State Solicitor's office; his views on the process adopted by his Department in view of the fact that Donegal County Council has paid his Department €130,000 to purchase this licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19914/13]

Deposit Protection Scheme Establishment

Pearse Doherty

410. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a deposit protection scheme for residential tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20294/13]

Public Order Offences

Pearse Doherty

435. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce an amendment to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) 2011 Act following the ruling in the cases (details supplied) which imposes a requirement on An Garda Síochána to establish that begging is taking place without legal authorisation before an arrest can be made, and in the case of foreign nationals, this requirement makes the legislation unworkable if a translator is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20023/13]

Insolvency Service of Ireland Issues

Pearse Doherty

436. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget and head count for the Insolvency Service of Ireland for 2013, 2014 and 2015. [20024/13]

Personal Insolvency Act

Pearse Doherty

437. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the safeguards that exist to ensure that personal insolvency practitioners act in an independent manner, particularly in view of the fact that PIPs will be constantly dealing with the same creditor banks where familiarity may undermine independence. [20026/13]

Courts Service Issues

Pearse Doherty

438. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the number of appeals waiting to be heard at the Supreme Court classified according to the year in which the appeal was allowed. [20027/13]

NAMA Debtors

Pearse Doherty

444. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of debtors of the National Asset Management Agency being investigated by An Garda Síochána following referral by NAMA arising from submissions by the debtors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20291/13]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

539. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the internal review undertaken by the Health Service Executive in County Donegal regarding X-ray facilities in community hospitals including Dungloe Community Hospital; if he will give an assurance that X-ray facilities will continue to operate in Dungloe throughout the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19915/13]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Pearse Doherty

540. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed primary health care centre for Dungloe, County Donegal; if a location has been identified for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19916/13]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

541. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the services available within the campus at Dungloe Community Hospital, County Donegal, at present; and the services he expects to move from the present campus to the proposed new primary health care centre. [19917/13]

Departmental Reports

Pearse Doherty

554. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the contents of the report that he has been asked to produce by the programme finance troika comparing the price of medicines here with other European countries; the scope of the report; the resources he has deployed to prepare the report; when the report will be finalised; and if it will be laid before the Oireachtas. [20022/13]

Arts Funding

Pearse Doherty

19. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will publish the report of the working group set up to explore fund-raising opportunities following on from the commitment given in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19365/13]

Irish Language

Pearse Doherty

43. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update as to the progress that has been made as regards the commitment in the 20 year strategy to develop initiatives to encourage writing in Irish by young persons in a range of media, including journalism, blogging, creative writing, drama and film scripts; and the supports that have been provided to encourage such writers. [19284/13]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Pearse Doherty

57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the grounds on which a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was fined €1,500 for release of a seized car on 25 February 2011; if those grounds are still valid; and if they have the right to reclaim this money in view of the fact that they were not given due notice. [19558/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Application Numbers

Pearse Doherty

194. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown per county of the total number of farmers that are awaiting payments under the agri-environment options scheme; the reasons for the delay in administering payments; the expected date that the payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19684/13]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers

Pearse Doherty

195. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown per county of the total number of farmers that are awaiting payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme; the reasons for the delay in administering payments; the expected date that the payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/13]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

236. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he intends to upgrade the status of Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, to a regional hospital; the impact this upgrade would have on the funding and services in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19690/13]

Government-Church Dialogue

Pearse Doherty

241. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an itinerary of his official engagements in the Far East over the recent St. Patrick's Day holiday as part of the promote Ireland programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. [19528/13]

Social Welfare Code

Pearse Doherty

45. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Court of Justice of the EU, in the case of Servet Kamberaj v Servet Kamberaj v Istituto per l’Edilizia Sociale della Provincia autonoma di Bolzano IPES, that EU member states are prohibited from implementing legislation which treats third-country nationals who are long-term residents different from EU citizens in relation to the allocation of certain types of social welfare payments; if she has examined the implications of this judgment for her Department; and if she will provide details of any discussions she has had on it. [18836/13]

Departmental Reports

Pearse Doherty

50. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted any research on identifying a minimum essential standard of living; if she will provide the results of this research and the methodology used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18837/13]

NAMA Portfolio

Pearse Doherty

68. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 16 April 2013, if he will clarify the apparent inconsistency in policy between the National Asset Management Agency providing detailed information in a press release on its development of the Millmount project in Dundonald, County Down, but declines to provide information on its plans with respect to the 1916 National Monument site at 14-17 Moore Street, Dublin. [19348/13]

Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

69. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 280 of 16 April 2013, if he will identify the independent advisors to Allied Irish bank and the AIB pension fund in the transaction whereby €1.2 billion of EBS mortgages were transferred from AIB to the AIB pension fund in August 2012; if the same company acted as independent advisor on both sides of the transaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19349/13]

NAMA Legal Fees

Pearse Doherty

70. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 16 April 2013, if he will confirm the reason legal fees were paid to ICSA Software International, a provider of computer software. [19350/13]

Personal Insolvency Act

Pearse Doherty

194. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the annual revenues that will be generated by the new personal insolvency sector being established to deal with the mechanisms in the Personal Insolvency Act 2012. [19351/13]

Recognition of Foreign Divorces

Pearse Doherty

202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that certain divorces obtained outside the EU are not recognised here. [19353/13]

Declarations of Insolvency

Pearse Doherty

203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position of this State recognising bankruptcy declarations in other jurisdictions; and if there are bankruptcy declarations in jurisdictions which this State does not recognise. [19354/13]

Debt Resolution Processes

Pearse Doherty

204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an estimate of the number of applications for personal insolvency orders, bankruptcies and debt relief notices that will be made in the State in the first 12 months after the commencement of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012. [19355/13]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

253. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he approached the British National Health Service to explore if there are further economies of scale or efficiency savings that might be achieved on the cost of medicines by pooling buying and resources with the Health Service Executive. [19352/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in a tabular form for each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 the actual expenditure, and for 2013 the budgeted expenditure of the Director of Public Prosecutions together with the whole time equivalent posts. [18411/13]

Ministerial Advisers Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

148. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of any and all pay increases awarded to special advisors in his Department over the past two years. [18357/13]